By Michael Letendre
BRISTOL – The Bristol Central boys basketball team continues to pay the price when it comes to the opposition.
The squad continues to compete in that ‘Donovan Clingan’ schedule that sees the Rams battles some of the state’s best competition in the Central Connecticut Conference.
Central is currently 2-3 overall, dropping decisions against CCC interdivisional opponents RHAM (65-48) and East Catholic (74-46) on the road and fell to rival Bristol Eastern (52-49) in a back-and-forth showdown at the BC Holiday Classic.
“I believe the teams that beat us were 12-1 combined and two out of those three [losses] came on the road,” said Central coach Tim Barrette. “I told our guys we had to get through that early stretch.”
And that’s exactly what the program did, taking its lumps against very good competition and eventually, start to defend its home court.
After that loss to the Lancers, the Rams responded with a slick 78-41 victory over Capital Prep in the consolation round of the Bristol Central Holiday Classic last Friday.
It was a big showing for the Rams as sharpshooter Mikey McMahon, posting a 20 spot against the Trailblazers — the first 20-point game for any player on the squad this year.
It could be the first of many for McMahon and once the senior is in a shooting groove, he can hit shots from as far as Lake Compounce.
Upcoming slate…
Central starts the New Year on Wednesday against Middletown (6:45 p.m.) from the Charles C. Marsh Gymnasium – the beginning of a huge cluster of home contests.
Wednesday’s bout is a big one and the Rams will have a good chance to topple the Blue Dragons (1-3 overall) with another sterling effort.
“As a coach, I’d love to get that Middletown [game] on Wednesday,” said Barrette. “It’s a big game for them. It’s a big game for us. It will be a high intensity game for sure.”
On Friday, pesky Lewis Mills comes to town (6:45 p.m.) before the Rams have its only road game in the month of January (January 9 at Newington).
After the Newington challenge, Central is home for six straight over an amazing slate of showdowns from Bristol.
In January, Platt, non-conference challenger Xavier, Hall, East Hartford and Berlin all travel to the Charles C. Marsh Gymnasium while the Rams start February in Bristol against Southington (February 1).
Over that slew of games, Barrette hopes to draw even in the win/loss department.
“If we can get back to .500, I told you we’re going to get better every game,” said Barrette. “You can see it along the way. We’re improving daily and when you don’t have a lot of experience, that’s what happens. They’re a great group.”
“I know one thing, these guys come to practice and they play hard.”
Who is scoring what?
Off that sterling 20-point effort against Capital Prep, McMahon is now averaging 11.8 points-per-game – leading the squad in scoring.
He is responsible for 16 of the squad’s 36 three-pointers this season.
By the way, the 20 points against Prep was McMahon’s scholastic career high.
Versatile Carmelo Thompson is second on the team in scoring, posting 8.4 ppg while shooter Joey Pikiell (6.6 ppg) is second on the squad in three-pointers made with six.
Quincy Lawson, usually the first big man off the pine, is averaging just under six points a game (5.8 ppg), Jaysun Dominguez (5.4 ppg) is making excellent contributions from the point guard position while big Harry Ross (5.2 ppg) has an offensive game that’s ever-improving.
Reserve Nate Ortiz (4.6 ppg) is certainly a jack of all trades player, showing tremendous shooting ability and the knack for making the big play.
And reserve guards Cody Roy (2.6 ppg) and Gavin Chamberlin (2.4 ppg) apply plenty of on-court pressure in Central’s defensive schemes.
Those athletes have all five games to date as Barrette is successfully using a nine-man unit in his rotation.
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